royal favoritism

His films obsessively examine aristocratic decadence and the corrupting influence of power within royal and noble families, particularly in *The Leopard* and *Ludwig*.

He dissected class hierarchies and institutional corruption in works like *Salò* and *Theorema*, revealing how power systems create favorites and disposable subjects.

His films repeatedly explore courtly intrigue, betrayal, and the precarious position of those seeking favor within power structures, notably in *Macbeth* and *The Ninth Gate*.